Pakistan has said would soon release two Indian soldiers who have been in its custody for the last four-and-a-half years, according to an army spokesperson in New Delhi.

He said the Pakistan's Director General Military (Operations) Major General Mohammad Yousaf had also told his Indian counterpart on Tuesday that consular access to the Indian High Commission was being arranged for the two prisoners, who had strayed across the Line of Control on September 17, 1999, soon after the Kargil operations.

Major General Deepak Summanwar said the Indian army had repeatedly taken up the matter with Pakistan and that financial assistance had been continuously provided to the families of the two prisoners. He said their pay and allowances would be restored from June 1.

However, the spokesperson did not respond to a question whether the Indian prisoners were being released in exchange for Pakistani prisoners in Indian custody.